WAM Theatre Appoints Five Members to Board of Trustees

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LENOX, Mass. — WAM Theatre welcomed five new members to its Board of Directors.
 
Each appointee is a recognized leader within the Berkshire community and beyond, bringing expertise, lived experience, and a shared commitment to advancing opportunities for women and girls.
 
"We are thrilled to celebrate both our returning board members and those newly joining WAM Theatre's Board of Directors," said Deb Brothers, WAM Board Co-President. "Each member brings valuable expertise, lived experience, and fresh perspective that strengthens our collective leadership and deepens our impact. WAM's dedicated Board positions WAM to lead with vision, accountability, and care as we advance our mission for women and girls."
 
At the end of 2025, WAM welcomed Shela Levante (Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, State Commissioner for the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women), and Bryan Binder (Leads the firm's M&A Advisory practice at Jetty Rock Capital), At the start of 2026 WAM welcomed Peggy Malumphy (HR Professional and Board Chair of The Boston House), Diana L. Knaebe (Executive Officer of The Brien Center), and Elizabeth Nelson (Multidisciplinary Artist and Communications & Content Producer at Greylock). 
 
Carolyn Butler (Community Philanthropist and fundraiser) returned to the Board for her third term.
 
"This is a pivotal and energizing moment for WAM Theatre," added Managing Director Molly Merrihew. "With a growing and deeply engaged Board of Directors, we are strengthening our governance, expanding our community impact, and building shared investment in WAM's long-term sustainability. As we grow, we are increasing our capacity to leverage philanthropic support, cultivate meaningful cross-sector partnerships, and steward resources in ways that boldly advance our mission. Together—with our staff, board, artists and community—we are expanding opportunities for women and girls across the Berkshires while contributing to the national movement for gender equity."
 
"I'm very excited to collaborate with each of our board members this year," noted WAM Board Co-President Nicole Young-Martin. "Each person has such a deep love and admiration for WAM Theatre, making the work very enjoyable and rewarding. And, we have a diverse range of expertise including human resources, finance, equity and justice, fundraising, community outreach, marketing, and theatre producing that we can tap into, allowing us to help build organizational capacity as we work with WAM Theatre staff and leadership to usher in this next chapter. I thank everyone in advance for all the hard work and dedication that they'll contribute this year."
 
Those with expertise to share and are interested in speaking to WAM about volunteer opportunities including participation in a WAM Theatre Committee working alongside our Team and Board please contact WAM via email at info@wamtheatre.com.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pennrose Breaks Ground in Lenox, Bringing 68 Units of Affordable Housing

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LENOX, Mass. — Pennrose announced the groundbreaking of 238 Pittsfield Road, a 68-unit affordable rental community.

The development will bring much-needed affordable, family-friendly housing options to the area.

The community will consist of 10 residential buildings offering a mix of 23 one-bedroom, 38 two-bedroom, and seven three-bedroom apartments. Of the 68 total homes, 57 will be affordable for households earning from 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) up to 80 percent AMI, with the remaining 11 units available at market rate rents.

A community building at the entrance of the development will offer resident-focused amenities, including event space and a fitness center, along with on-site offices for Pennrose management and resident services staff.

"238 Pittsfield Road builds on the progress that the Town of Lenox has made in addressing the region's pressing needs for affordable, family-sized rental housing," said Karmen Cheung, Regional Vice President at Pennrose. "This partnership with the Town of Lenox continues to deliver communities that give families of all sizes a place to call home. Together with Forge, these two communities reflect our long-term commitment to meeting the diverse housing needs of Berkshire families."

Currently only 7 percent of Lenox's housing stock is deed-restricted affordable, falling short of the 10 percent goal established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Additionally, approximately 90 percent of the town's existing affordable housing is limited to seniors, and market-rate rental options remain sparse.

238 Pittsfield Road is located a mile down the road from Forge,  a mixed-income community that celebrated its grand opening in August. Together, the two sister developments will add a total of 133 new affordable units to the town.

The project continues Pennrose's collaboration with the Town of Lenox and is guided by the goals of the Town's 2017 Housing Production Plan, 2021 Master Plan, and 2002 Gateway Redevelopment Plan.

The project is financed via federal 4 percent tax credit and state tax credit allocations from the Commonwealth's Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), with the National Equity Fund as the syndicator and Rockland Trust and US Bank as the investors. Rockland also provided construction debt, and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) provided both permanent debt and Workforce Housing Funds. MassDevelopment is the bond issuer, and EOHLC provided additional soft sources and operating subsidy. Finally, the Town of Lenox provided local Affordable Housing Trust and Community Preservation Act funds, as well as funds through the Commonwealth's HousingWorks Infrastructure Program (HWIP).

Haynes Construction is serving as general contractor and The Architectural Team as architect for the development.

Construction is underway and is expected to be completed in early 2028.

 

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